Authorizing a purchase transaction using a mobile device

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments are related to apparatuses and methods for authorizing a purchase transaction using a mobile device. A consumer can pay for a purchase from a seller using a payment object such as a credit card or automated teller machine (ATM) card. The credit card or ATM card can be swiped through a card reader that is part of the seller&#39;s sales system, and the sales system can transmit the purchase transaction to a financial system for approval. The consumer can use a mobile device such as a smartphone, instead of the seller&#39;s keypad or signature pad, to electronically capture a signature or personal identification number (PIN) as part of the consumer&#39;s authorization of the purchase transaction. The consumer can further use the mobile device to review line items of the purchase transaction or to add a tip amount to the total amount of the purchase transaction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/165,256 filed on Jan. 27, 2014 entitled “AUTHORIZING A PURCHASETRANSACTION USING A MOBILE DEVICE”, which claims the benefit of U.S.provisional patent application No. 61/894,322, filed Oct. 22, 2013,which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Consumers today use many types of payment cards and other paymentmechanisms to make purchases, for example, using a credit card orautomated teller machine (ATM) card to buy a coffee at a coffee shop. Ina typical transaction, a consumer takes a payment card out of her walletor purse and the payment card is slid through a card reader by theconsumer or a sales clerk. In the case of a purchase using a creditcard, the consumer may have to provide a signature. The consumertypically provides a signature that is captured electronically, such asby signing on a touch sensitive pad or screen provided by the seller,the touch sensitive pad or screen capturing the signatureelectronically. In the case of a purchase using an ATM card, theconsumer may need to provide her personal identification number (PIN)for her card. The consumer typically enters her PIN using a keypadprovided by the seller.

Some consumers are concerned with certain aspects of such purchasetransactions. For example, a consumer may be concerned with touchingitems previously touched by other people, due to their concern or, insome cases, even fear of catching germs left on the items by otherpeople. When providing her signature for a credit card transaction, aconsumer may be concerned with germs left on the stylus ortouch-sensitive pad or screen by a previous consumer when the previousconsumer provides his signature. When providing her PIN number, aconsumer may be concerned with catching germs left on the keypad ortouch screen when a previous consumer uses the keypad or touch screen toprovide his PIN.

Consumers may also be concerned with others obtaining information theconsumer prefers to keep private during the transaction. For example, aconsumer may be concerned about using the seller's keypad to enter theconsumer's PIN, as the consumer may feel that she cannot adequately hidefrom others the PIN that she enters using that keypad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described and explainedthrough the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of components of or associated with a firstembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for authorizing a purchasetransaction using a mobile device;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of components of or associated with a secondembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of components of or associated with a thirdembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of components of or associated with a forthembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operations of a firstembodiment of a method for authorizing a transaction using a mobiledevice;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of components of or associated with a fifthembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of components of or associated with a sixthembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operations of a secondembodiment of a method for authorizing a transaction using a mobiledevice;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of transaction information being displayed ona smartphone;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an association between a proxy card andassociation information;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operations of a thirdembodiment of a method for authorizing a payment transaction using amobile device;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a listing of payment accounts associatedwith a proxy card being displayed on a smartphone;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exampleform of a computer system within which a set of instructions, forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies ormodules discussed herein, may be executed.

The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be expanded orreduced to help improve the understanding of the embodiments of thepresent invention. Similarly, some components and/or operations may beseparated into different blocks or combined into a single block for thepurposes of discussion of some of the embodiments of the presentinvention. Moreover, while the invention is amenable to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have beenshown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detailbelow. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention isintended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application discloses technology related to processing a purchasetransaction wherein a consumer can use a mobile device related to thepurchase, for example, to authorize the purchase transaction, to reviewitems associated with the purchase transaction, or to select a paymentaccount to use for a payment. As one example, a consumer can pay for apurchase using a credit card, automated teller machine (ATM) card, orproxy card, and the card can be swiped through a card reader that ispart of the seller's point of sale system, a common example of a pointof sale system being sales systems typically used by businesses likeWalmart® and Target®. The term “swipe” here refers to any manner oftriggering a physical card reader to read a physical card, such aspassing a card through a magnetic stripe reader, smartcard reader,optical code reader, radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, etc.The term “sale”, as in point-of-sale (POS) or sales system, refers toany type of payment-oriented transaction, including a lease or rentalfor example, and is not limited to an actual purchase. After asuccessful swipe, the process of authorizing the transaction begins. Aconsumer can use, for example, a smartphone instead of the seller'skeypad or signature pad to electronically capture a signature orpersonal identification number (PIN) as part of the consumer'sauthorization of the purchase transaction. A consumer can use a mobiledevice, for example, to review line items of a purchase transaction. Ata business where tips are appropriate, such as a restaurant, a consumercan, for example, use a mobile device such as a smartphone to add a tipamount to the purchase transaction. In an embodiment, a proxy card is apayment card that is associated with multiple electronic accounts via anassociation maintained at a server. When the consumer uses a proxy cardto pay for the purchase, the consumer can use a mobile device to selectan electronic account to use to pay for the purchase.

Some consumers are concerned with several aspects of making a purchaseusing a payment card such as a credit card or an ATM card. For example,when providing a signature for a credit card transaction, some consumersare concerned about catching germs left on the stylus or thetouch-sensitive pad or screen by a previous consumer when the previousconsumer provides a signature. Such consumers would appreciate beingable to provide a signature without having to worry about catching germsfrom others. Some consumers are similarly concerned about catching germsleft on the seller's keypad used by other consumer's when entering theirPINs. Such consumers would similarly appreciate being able to providetheir PIN without having to worry about catching germs from others.Further, some customers are concerned with security, for example,concerned that someone may see their PIN when they enter it using theseller's keypad.

As discussed above, this application discloses technology related toprocessing a purchase transaction wherein a consumer can use a mobiledevice related to the purchase, for example, to authorize the purchasetransaction, to review items associated with the purchase transaction,or to select a payment account to use for a payment. A consumer can usea mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to electronicallycapture the consumer's signature or PIN. This enables the consumer toavoid having to touch the seller's equipment. For example, the consumerdoes not have to touch the seller's stylus or touch-sensitive pad orscreen to provide a signature, nor does the consumer have to touch theseller's keypad to enter her PIN. Further, the consumer can use hermobile device for other parts of the purchase transaction. For example,a bill for a meal at a restaurant can be displayed on the mobile deviceof a consumer, and the consumer can enter the amount she desires toleave as a tip using her mobile device with this amount being added toher bill. As another example, the bill for the meal can also bedisplayed at the line item level, and the consumer can check each lineitem of the bill to ensure that the bill is correct before using hermobile device to authorize the purchase transaction, for example, byproviding her signature or PIN using her mobile device. As anotherexample, the consumer can pay for the meal using a proxy card. The cardis swiped through a card reader coupled to a point-of-sale (POS) system,and a listing of the payment account associated with the proxy cardappears on the consumer's mobile device. The consumer uses the mobiledevice to select a payment card to use to pay for the meal.

Further, using a mobile device as part of authorizing a purchasetransaction can increase the security of the transaction. For example,to use a mobile device as part of a purchase transaction authorization,the mobile device may need to be associated with a payment card such asa credit card. A transaction that involves both a credit card and amobile phone, both of which are associated with a consumer, can be moresecure than a purchase transaction involving only one item, such as onlythe credit card or only the mobile device.

Some restaurant owners may also appreciate certain aspects of thedisclosed technology. For example, the process of collecting payment fora meal can be streamlined. A waiter can take a consumer's order using arestaurant mobile device, for example an iPad©, and can also read theconsumer's payment card using, for example, a card reader coupled to theiPad©. The bill for the meal can be automatically generated andtransmitted to the consumer's mobile device where the bill for the mealcan be displayed on the screen. The consumer, at her leisure and evenwhile at her table, can use her mobile device to review the bill at theline item level, can use her mobile device to add a tip, can use hermobile device to provide her signature or PIN number, and can concludethe payment transaction without any need to walk to a station where acashier is working at a sales register. The consumer can further obtaina copy of the purchase transaction receipt on her mobile device.

Walking through a simple example may be helpful in understanding thedisclosed technology. A consumer can enter a store, such as Target® orWalmart®, and can select a number of items to purchase. She can take theitems to a sales register, where she can provide a payment card such asa credit card, an ATM card, or a proxy card to a cashier. After ringingup the consumer's items, the cashier can take the consumer's paymentcard and can swipe the card through a card reader coupled to the salesregister. The sales register can transmit the transaction information,such as the amount of the purchase, to a financial system, an example ofa financial system being the system used by Target® or Walmart® toprocess credit card and ATM card purchase transactions. The salesregister can further transmit the payment card information read from theconsumer's payment card to the financial system. The financial systemcan transmit this purchase information and payment card information to apayment processing computer system. In some embodiments, the salesregister can transmit the transaction information to the paymentprocessing computer system, which can transmit the purchase informationand the payment card information to a financial system.

The payment processing computer system can use the payment cardinformation to determine a mobile device, such as a smartphoneassociated with the payment card. The payment processing computer systemcan transmit information to be displayed on the consumer's mobiledevice, such as the amount of the purchase transaction, line items ofthe purchase transaction, or a listing of payment accounts associatedwith a proxy card. The consumer can review the purchase transaction anddetermine whether to authorize the transaction. When the payment card isa proxy card, authorizing the transaction can include selecting apayment account associated with the proxy card to use for the payment.As part of the consumer authorizing the purchase transaction, thepayment processing computer system can transmit a request to authorizethe purchase transaction to the consumer's mobile device, where therequest can be displayed. The consumer can use her mobile device reviewthe purchase transaction and to electronically capture her signature orPIN to satisfy the authorization request. The consumer's mobile devicecan transmit the consumer's signature or ATM number to the paymentprocessing computer system to indicate that the consumer authorizes thepurchase transaction.

After receiving the customer's transaction authorization from theconsumer's mobile device, the payment processing computer system cantransmit a message to the financial system indicating the customer'sauthorization of the transaction. The financial system, afterauthorizing the purchase transaction, can transmit an authorization forthe purchase transaction to the seller's sales register, therebysuccessfully completing the purchase transaction. The financial systemauthorization can indicate that the payment account being used toinitiate the payment has access to adequate funds for the payment. Oncethe purchase transaction is successfully completed, the consumer is freeto leave the store with the items that are part of the purchasetransaction.

Terminology

Brief definitions of terms, abbreviations, and phrases used throughoutthis application are given below.

The terms “connected” or “coupled” and related terms are used in anoperational sense and are not necessarily limited to a direct physicalconnection or coupling. Thus, for example, two devices may be coupleddirectly, or via one or more intermediary media or devices. As anotherexample, devices may be coupled in such a way that information can bepassed there between, while not sharing any physical connection with oneanother. Based on the disclosure provided herein, one of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate a variety of ways in which connection orcoupling exists in accordance with the aforementioned definition.

The phrases “in some embodiments,” “according to various embodiments,”“in the embodiments shown,” “in one embodiment,” “in other embodiments,”“various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” and the like generally meanthe particular feature, structure, or characteristic following thephrase is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention,and may be included in more than one embodiment of the presentinvention. In addition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to thesame embodiments or to different embodiments.

If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”,“could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, thatparticular component or feature is not required to be included or havethe characteristic. The terms “purchase transaction” and “transaction”are used interchangeably in this document and both have the samemeaning.

The term “module” refers broadly to software, hardware, or firmware (orany combination thereof) components. Modules are typically functionalcomponents that can generate useful data or other output using specifiedinput(s). A module may or may not be self-contained. An applicationprogram (also called an “application”) may include one or more modules,or a module can include one or more application programs.

General Description

FIG. 1 is an illustration of components of or associated with a firstembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device. Consumer 105 is about to make a purchase. In an examplewhere consumer 105 is shopping at a store such as Target® or Walmart®,consumer 105 at some point finishes shopping for the desired items andtakes the items to a cashier at a checkout line. The cashier rings upconsumer 105's items using a sales register, the sales register beingsales device 110 in this example. The cashier scans the items usingscanner 108, which is coupled to sales device 110 and which transmitsthe scanned data to sales device 110. Sales device 110 receives thescanned data and rings up the items for the purchase transaction.

After the cashier finishes ringing up consumer 105's items anddetermines the total bill, and consumer 105 uses payment card 140, whichcan be for example a credit card, an automated teller machine (ATM)card, or a proxy card, to pay for the purchase. Payment card 140 isswiped through card reader 155, which reads the payment card informationfrom the magnetic stripe of payment card 140. The payment cardinformation can include, for example, identity information of thepayment card, or meta data. Card reader 150 transmits the payment cardinformation to the sales register (i.e. sales device 110), card reader155 being coupled to sales device 110. The sales register, which can befor example a point of sale (POS) system, initiates a transactionauthorization. The transaction authorization can be to ensure that thecredit or bank account associated with payment card 140 has access toadequate funds to pay the total bill.

The sales register transmits the transaction information, such as thetotal amount of the purchase transaction, and the payment cardinformation to financial system 160A to have the purchase transactionauthorized. Financial system 160A, after determining that payment card140 is associated with computer system 150 based on, for example, thepayment card identity information or meta data, transmits thetransaction information and the payment card information to computersystem 150. The meta data can include, for example, an internet protocol(IP) address or computer system 150, or a phone number associated withcomputer system 150, or some other data or commands that indicate to thefinancial system to send the transaction information and the paymentcard information to computer system 150. Computer system 150, havingaccess to a database that associates the payment card information withconsumer 105's smartphone (i.e. mobile device 165), transmits a messagethat causes the transaction information to be displayed on consumer105's smartphone. Consumer 105 can use the smartphone (i.e. mobiledevice 165) to review the transaction information, for example consumer105 can make sure that the total amount is correct. When consumer 105makes a purchase at a business, such as a restaurant, where tips areaccepted, the transaction information can include a display enablingconsumer 105 to enter or select a tip amount.

FIG. 10 contains an example of transaction information for a differentpurchase transaction (i.e. for a purchase transaction not related to thecurrent example) being displayed on a smartphone. Display 1000 of FIG.10 illustrates an example of a display enabling a customer to select atip amount. Other displays can enable a customer to enter a tip amount,the tip amount being any amount of money that the customer desires toprovide as a tip. When payment card 140 is a proxy card, computer system150 can access a database that associates multiple payment accounts withthe proxy card. Computer system 150 can transmit a message that causes alisting of one or more of the payment accounts to be displayed onconsumer 105's smartphone. Consumer 105 can use the smartphone toindicate a selection of the payment account to use to initiate paymentfor the purchase transaction. Display 1300 of FIG. 13 illustrates anexample of a listing of payment accounts being displayed on asmartphone, to enable a consumer to select the payment account to use toinitiate the payment. As part of consumer 105's authorization of thetransaction, consumer 105 can use mobile device 165 to electronicallycapture consumer 105's signature or PIN.

Mobile device 165, after electronically capturing, as part of consumer105's authorization of the transaction, consumer 105's signature or PINnumber, or consumer 105's selection of the payment account to authorizeusing the selected payment account to initiate the payment, can transmitthis consumer authorization information to computer system 150. When thetransaction information includes a display enabling or in some other wayenables consumer 105 to enter a tip amount, the consumer information caninclude a tip amount that is authorized by consumer 105. Computer system150, upon receipt of this consumer authorization information, cantransmit the consumer authorization information to financial system160A. Financial system 160A can use the consumer authorizationinformation, along with other information, to determine to authorize thepurchase transaction. Financial system 160A, having determined toauthorize the purchase transaction, can transmit a transactionauthorization to the cashier's sales register (i.e. sales device 110),and the cashier can complete the purchase transaction. In someembodiments, computer system 150 authorizes the purchase transaction andsends the transaction authorization to the cashier's sales register. Atthis point, consumer 105 is free to leave the store with the items thatare part of the purchase transaction.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for authorizing a purchasetransaction using a mobile device. The following description of FIG. 2will be described using the embodiment and components of theillustration of FIG. 1, and will refer to labels of FIG. 1. This is anon-limiting example and is done with the intent of making thedescription of FIG. 2 easier to understand.

The purchase process as illustrated in FIG. 2 has two primary phases,card swipe 250 and transaction authorization 245. A portion oftransaction authorization 245 is consumer authorization 255. The firstphase is card swipe 250. A consumer has payment card 140, which can befor example a credit card, an automated teller machine (ATM) card, or aproxy card, some instances of each card having a magnetic stripe. In theexample of FIG. 1 where consumer 105 is shopping at Target® or Walmart®,consumer 105 takes the items obtained while shopping to a checkoutstand. Once consumer 105 reaches the checkout stand, a sales clerk scansconsumer 105's items using scanner 108, the scanner transmitting thescanned data to sales device 110. The sales clerk, using sales device110, rings up consumer 105's items by either scanning the product codesof the items using scanner 108 or by entering the product code intosales device 108 using, for example, the keyboard of sales device 108.

Once consumer 105's items have been rung up by the sales clerk usingsales device 110 and scanner 108, a card swipe 250 phase is initiated.At step 205, consumer 105 uses payment card 140 to pay for the purchase,and card reader 155 reads information from the magnetic strip of paymentcard 140. At step 210, card reader 155 transmits the informationobtained from payment card 140 to sales device 110 completing the cardswipe phase of the purchase transaction. Sales device 110, scanner 108,and card reader 155 can comprise a sales system, as illustrated in theembodiment of FIG. 4 where sales system 480 comprises sales device 110,scanner 108, and card reader 155.

Transaction authorization 245, where consumer 105's purchase transactionis authorized, starts at step 215. At step 215, sales device 110transmits part or all of the payment card information, obtained by cardreader 155 from payment card 140, to financial system 160. Sales device110 can further transmit transaction information related to the purchasethat consumer 105 desires to make to financial system 160. For example,sales device 110 can transmit the total amount of the purchase, or theline items of the purchase, to financial system 160.

Financial system 160 can be, for example, the system used by Target® orWalmart® to process credit card and ATM card purchase transactions. Aswill be appreciated, financial system 160 can take on any one of avariety of suitable embodiments. For example, financial system 160 canbe financial system 160A of FIG. 1. In this example, financial system160A does not include computer system 150. In another example, financialsystem 160 can be financial system 160B of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is anillustration of components of or associated with a second embodiment ofa system for authorizing a purchase transaction using a mobile device.In this example, financial system 160B includes computer system 150. Insome embodiments, sales device 110 transmits part of all of the paymentcard information to computer system 150.

As will be appreciated, data transmitted or received by a component of asystem is also transmitted or received by the system of which thecomponent is a part. For example, in FIG. 4, sales device 110 is part ofa sales system (i.e. sales device 110 is part of sales system 480). InFIG. 4, any data that is transmitted or received by sales device 110 isalso transmitted or received by the sales system of which sales device110 is a part (i.e. by sales system 480). For example, in step 215 asapplied to FIG. 4, the payment card information that is transmitted bysales device 110 is also transmitted by sales system 480. Similarly, anydata that is received by sales device 110 is also received by salessystem 480.

At step 220, financial system 160, having determined that payment card140 is associated with computer system 150 based on, for example, theidentity information or meta data of payment card 140, transmits atleast part of the transaction information and the payment cardinformation to computer system 150. In some embodiments, such as in FIG.1, computer system 150 is not part of financial system 160. In otherembodiments, such as in FIG. 3, computer system 150 is part of financialsystem 160. In some embodiments, computer system 150 receives thetransaction information and the payment card information from salesdevice 110.

Computer system 150, having access to a database that associates thepayment card information with mobile device 165, for example asmartphone owned by consumer 105, at step 225 transmits a message thatcauses the transaction information to be displayed on consumer 105'ssmartphone, starting consumer authorization 255, a sub-part oftransaction authorization 245. FIG. 10 contains an example oftransaction information for a different purchase transaction (i.e. for apurchase transaction not related to the current example) being displayedon a smartphone. Consumer 105 can use mobile device 165 to review thetransaction information, for example consumer 105 can make sure that thetotal amount is correct. When payment card 140 is a proxy card, computersystem 150 can access a database that associates multiple paymentaccounts with the proxy card. Computer system 150 at step 225 cantransmit a message that causes a listing of one or more of the paymentaccounts to be displayed at mobile device 165. Consumer 105 can usemobile device 165 to indicate a selection of the payment account to useto initiate payment for the purchase transaction.

The message transmitted at step 225 further contains a consumerauthorization request. As part of an authorization of the transaction,and to satisfy the consumer authorization request, consumer 105 can usemobile device 165 to electronically capture consumer 105's signature orpersonal identification number (PIN), or can select the payment account.When consumer 105 makes a purchase at a business, such as a restaurant,where tips are accepted, the consumer authorization request can includea display enabling consumer 105 to enter or select a tip amount. FIG. 10contains an example of a display enabling a customer to select a tipamount. Other displays can enable a customer to enter a tip amount, thetip amount being any amount of money that the customer desires toprovide as a tip.

At step 230, mobile device 165 (i.e. consumer 105's smartphone in theexample of FIG. 2), after electronically capturing, to satisfy theconsumer authorization request as part of the transaction authorization,consumer 105's signature or PIN or the selection of the payment account,can transmit this consumer authorization information to computer system150. The consumer authorization information can be response information,sent in response to the consumer authorization request. When theconsumer authorization request includes a display enabling or some othermethod to enable consumer 105 to enter a tip amount, the consumerauthorization information can include a tip amount that is authorized byconsumer 105. The tip amount can be added to the total amount of thepurchase transaction. Computer system 150, at step 235, can transmit theconsumer authorization information to financial system 160, which candetermine the results of transaction authorization 245. Two of thepossible results of transaction authorization 245 are that the purchasetransaction is authorized, in which case financial system 160 cantransmit a transaction authorization at step 240 to sales device 110, orthat the purchase transaction is declined, in which case financialsystem 160 can transmit a message at step 240 declining the transactionto sales device 110. In some embodiments, computer system 150 determinesthe results of the transaction authorization, and transmits the resultsof the transaction authorization to sales device 110.

At this point, assuming that the purchase transaction was authorized(i.e. the result of transaction authorization 245 is that the purchasetransaction was authorized), the purchase transaction is complete andthe consumer is free to walk out of the store with the items that arepart of the purchase transaction.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of components of or associated with a thirdembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device. The following description of FIG. 4 will be describedusing the embodiment and components of the illustration of FIG. 1, andwill refer to labels of FIG. 1. This is a non-limiting example and isdone with the intent of making the description of FIG. 4 easier tounderstand.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, sales device 110, scanner 108, and card reader155 can comprise sales system 480. Sales system 480, as configured inFIG. 2, illustrates one embodiment of a sales system. A person havingordinary skill in the art will appreciate that sales system 480 can workin various other embodiments. In one embodiment, sales system 480 can bea point of sale system. In another embodiment, sales device 110 can be apoint of sales system and sales device 110 can be one component of salessystem 480. In another embodiment, sales device 110 and sales system 480can be one and the same. For example, sales device 110 can be a point ofsales system and sales system 480 can be the same point of sales system.Sales system 480 can be a payment terminal system.

Sales system 480 can include any component associated with processing apurchase transaction. A component can be associated with processing apurchase transaction when the component assists in identifying purchasetransaction items, or assists in identifying the payment mechanismassociated with the purchase transaction, or assists in receiving thepayment, or assists in processing cash or other proxies for money, suchas checks, money orders, travelers checks, and the like associated withthe purchase transaction, or assists in calculations associated with thepurchase transaction, or assists in tracking inventory effects ofpurchase transactions, or provides any other assistance related to thepurchase transaction.

Examples of sales systems and components of sales systems include pointof sale (POS) systems, cash registers, computer systems running salesapplications including mobile devices running sales applications, cloudbased POS systems, checkout registers, computer systems running internetbased applications such as a web browser, mobile devices running salesapplications, fixed function devices (i.e. hardware devices without ageneral purpose operating system) configured to function as salesdevices, card readers, scanners, automated money acceptance devices,automated change devices, self-serve point of sales systems (i.e.systems where a consumer can scan or enter the items to be purchased,can provide a payment card, and can complete a purchase transactionwithout the assistance of a store employee), and the like.

Sales system 480 can obtain information associated with payment object740 of FIG. 7 (payment object 740 can be payment card 140), theinformation being part of the payment object information. In embodimentswhere payment object 740 is a magnetic stripe card or a re-programmablemagnetic stripe card, sales system 480 can read the magnetic stripe. Inembodiments where payment object 740 is a smart card, sales system 480can communicate with the smart card to obtain information related topayment object 740. In embodiments where payment object 740 is aproximity card, sales system 480 can cause the proximity card totransmit information associated with the proximity card, such as a radiofrequency identification (RFID), which sales system 480 can receive. Inembodiments where payment object 740 is a card with a QR code or barcode, sales system 480 can obtain the QR code or bar code, for example,by scanning the bar code or QR code. Sales system 480 can furthertransmit the payment object information to financial system 160A, aswell as financial system 160 of FIG. 2, financial system 160B of FIG. 3,and financial system 160C of FIG. 8 (via computer system 150B forfinancial system 160C).

Financial system 160A (as well as financial system 160 of FIG. 2,financial system 160B of FIG. 3, and financial system 160C of FIG. 8)can be any financial system that processes payment transactions. Forexample, financial system 160A can comprise a payment processingservice, such as Bank of America Merchant Services, a financial service,such as VISA's VisaNet Payment System, and a banking service, such asCitibank. In some embodiments, a financial system can include computersystem 150.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of components of or associated with a fourthembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device. The following description of FIG. 5 will be describedusing the embodiment and components of the illustration of FIG. 1, andwill refer to labels of FIG. 1. This is a non-limiting example and isdone with the intent of making the description of FIG. 5 easier tounderstand.

Some components of FIG. 5 are described above in the descriptions ofFIGS. 1-4. FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a system wherein financial system160B includes computer system 150, and sales system 480 is coupled tofinancial system 160B and to computer system 150 (via financial system160B). Computer system 150 can be included in financial system 160B whencomputer system 150 is owned by an entity or an individual associatedwith financial system 160B, or when computer system 150 is controlled byan entity or an individual associated with financial system 1606, orwhen computer system 150 is connected to a network owned or under thecontrol of an entity or individual associated with financial system160B, or when computer system 150 has any other association withfinancial system 160B related to processing purchase transactions.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operations of a firstembodiment of a method for authorizing a transaction using a mobiledevice. The following description of FIG. 6 will be described using thetransaction illustrated in FIG. 2, and will refer to labels of thatfigure. This is a non-limiting example and is done with the intent ofmaking the description of FIG. 6 easier to understand.

It is noteworthy that, in some embodiments, including the embodiments ofFIG. 1, FIGS. 3-5, and FIG. 7, all steps of the method of FIG. 6 can becarried out by computer system 150. Step 605 includes initiating apurchase transaction. A consumer can present a payment card to make apayment associated with a financial transaction. For example, theconsumer can purchase a coffee from a merchant. To pay for the coffee,the consumer can present the payment card to the merchant. The purchasetransaction can be initiated based on the proxy card being used toinitiate a payment to the merchant, such as by swiping the proxy cardusing a card reader, an optical scanner, etc. associated with and/orcoupled to the merchant's sales system, or by the consumer otherwiseindicating an intent to make a purchase.

Step 610 includes swiping a payment card through a card reader. Step 610can occur after step 605, or can be the event that triggers step 605.The term “swipe” here refers to any manner of triggering a physical cardreader to read or obtain information from a physical card, such aspassing a card through a magnetic stripe reader, smartcard reader,optical code reader, radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, etc.Step 610 can involve a payment card, such as payment card 140, beingswiped though a card reader, such as card reader 155, as is depicted inFIG. 1. As is discussed in the description of FIG. 7, swipe also refersto the manners in which sales system 480 can obtain informationassociated with payment object 740.

Step 615 includes receiving transaction information associated with apurchase transaction. A computer system, such as computer system 150,can receive the transaction information, which can be sent by a salessystem, such as sales system 480. Using the example of FIG. 2, at step220 at least part of the transaction information is transmitted tocomputer system 150, and computer system 150 receives the transactioninformation. The transaction information is information associated withthe purchase transaction and can include an amount of the purchasetransaction, a listing of one or more of the items/services/etc.associated with the purchase transaction, or identifying information forthe merchant, such as an identification number or character string thatenables identification of the merchant, among other information.

As discussed above related to FIG. 1, at step 215 sales device 110transmits the transaction information, such as the total amount of thebill, and the payment card information to financial system 160A. Salesdevice 110 can further be part of a sales system that also includes cardreader 155 and scanner 108, and any data transmitted or received bysales device 110 is also transmitted or received by the sales system ofwhich sales device 110 is a part. Accordingly, the transactioninformation transmitted by sales device 110 at step 215 can also betransmitted by the sales system of which sales device 110 is a part. Atstep 220 computer system 150 receives the transaction information, andthe transaction information, which is associated with the purchasetransaction, can be from a sales system of which sales device 110 is apart, as per step 615.

Step 620 includes receiving identity information of the payment card.The identity information can have been obtained from the payment cardusing the card reader, and includes information that enables theidentification of the payment card or an account associated with thepayment card. Using the example of FIG. 2, at step 220 at least part ofthe payment card information is transmitted to computer system 150, andcomputer system 150 receives the payment card information. The paymentcard information can include identity information, such as an number ortext string that identifies the payment card or an account associatedwith the payment card. The payment card information of FIG. 2 wasobtained from payment card 140 when payment card 140 was swiped throughcard reader 155 and card reader 155 read the payment card informationfrom the magnetic stripe of payment card 140. As illustrated in FIG. 1,payment card 140 is associated with consumer 105.

At step 210, card reader 155 transmits the payment card information tosales device 110, which at step 215 transmits the payment cardinformation to financial system 160. Financial system 160 transmits thepayment card information to computer system 150 at step 220. The paymentcard information received by computer system 150 is from card reader 155via both sales device 110 and financial system 160. As discussed relatedto step 615, any data transmitted or received by sales device 110 isalso transmitted or received by the sales system of which sales device110 is a part. Accordingly, computer system 150 receives, from a salessystem of which sales device 110 is a part, payment card informationincluding identity information, the payment card information having beenobtained using card reader 155 from payment card 140, a payment cardassociated with consumer 105, as per step 620.

Step 625 includes determining information related to a mobile deviceassociated with a customer. Computer system 150 can have access to adatabase that associates the payment card, such as payment card 140,with a mobile device, such as mobile device 165. Computer system 150 canaccess the database to obtain, for example, contact information for themobile device, such as the internet protocol (IP) address or phonenumber of the mobile device, or an email address associated with themobile device, such as consumer 105's email address.

Step 630 includes sending or causing to be sent an authorizationrequest. Using the example of FIG. 2, at step 225 computer system 150transmits a message that causes the transaction information to bedisplayed on consumer 105's smartphone (i.e. mobile device 165),starting consumer authorization 255. The message transmitted at step 225further contains a consumer authorization request, which can be arequest for the consumer to authorize the purchase transaction.Accordingly, at step 225 computer system 150 sends a message containinga request to authorize a purchase transaction to mobile device 165, amobile device associated with consumer 105, as per step 630.Alternatively, computer system 150 can send a message to anothercomputer system that causes the other computer system to send themessage containing the authorization request to mobile device 165.

Step 635 includes receiving a response to the authorization request.Using the example of FIG. 2, at step 230 mobile device 165 (i.e.consumer 105's smartphone), as part of the transaction authorization andto satisfy the consumer authorization request, can transmit consumer105's signature or PIN, or the payment account selected by consumer 105,to computer system 150. The consumer authorization is a response to theconsumer authorization request and the electronically captured signatureand PIN and an indication of the selected payment account are responseinformation. Hence, at step 230 computer system 150 receives theconsumer authorization, the consumer authorization being a response tothe authentication and which can include response information. Theresponse and the response information are from mobile device 165, amobile device associated with consumer 105.

Step 640 includes sending the response information to a financialsystem. Using the example of FIG. 2, at step 235 computer system 150 cantransmit the consumer authorization information to financial system 160,and the response or consumer authorization information can include theelectronically captured signature or PIN, or the indication of theselected payment account. Financial system 160 at step 240 can transmita transaction authorization to sales device 110, financial system 160being configured to send a transaction authorization to sales device110. As discussed related to step 615, any data transmitted or receivedby sales device 110 is also transmitted or received by the sales systemof which sales device 110 is a part. Hence, financial system 160 at step240 can transmit a transaction authorization to a sales system of whichsales device 110 is a part. Accordingly, computer system 150 sends theconsumer authorization information, the consumer authorizationinformation being part of the response information, to financial system160, as per step 640.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of components of or associated with a fifthembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device. Consumer 105 is about to make a purchase. In an examplewhere consumer 105 is shopping at a store such as Target® or Walmart®,consumer 105 at some point finishes shopping for the desired items andtakes the items to a cashier at a checkout line. The cashier rings upconsumer 105's items using a sales register, the sales register, a cardreader, and a scanner all components of sales system 480 in thisexample. The cashier scans the items using the scanner of sales system480, and the sales register rings up the items for the purchasetransaction.

After the cashier finishes ringing up consumer 105's items anddetermines the total bill, consumer 105 presents payment object 740,which can be, for example, a credit card, an automated teller machine(ATM) card, a proxy card, or a mobile device, to the seller. Paymentobject 740 is compatible with sales system 750 and with financial system160A. Because payment object 740 is compatible with sales system 480,sales system 480 can obtain information associated with payment object740 sufficient to enable initiation of a transaction authorization, suchas transaction authorization 245 of FIG. 2. Because payment object 740is compatible with financial system 160A, financial system 160A candetermine a payment mechanism, such as a credit account associated witha credit card or a bank account associated with an ATM card, that isassociated with payment object 740, and can determine whether to approvea purchase transaction made using payment object 740.

Using the method diagrammed in FIG. 2 as an example, payment object 740can be payment card 140. Payment object 740 (i.e. payment card 140) iscompatible with the sales system of which sales device 110 and cardreader 155 of FIG. 2 are a part, in that the sales system can obtaininformation related to payment object 740 sufficient to enableinitiation of a transaction authorization. For example, card reader 155of the sales system including card reader 155 and sales device 110 canread the magnetic stripe of payment card 140 (i.e. payment object 740).The payment card information read from payment card 140 can besufficient to enable initiation of transaction authorization 245 of FIG.2 by the sales system, transaction authorization 245 initiated by atransmission from sales device 110 to financial system 160. Further,payment object 740 is compatible with financial system 160 of FIG. 2, inthat financial system 160 can determine a payment mechanism, such as acredit card or an ATM card, that is associated with payment object 740(i.e. payment card 140) and can determine whether to approve a purchasetransaction made using payment object 740.

As another example, payment object 740 can be a mobile device, such asmobile device 165. In embodiments where payment object 740 is a mobiledevice, sales system 480 can obtain identity information and otherinformation for the mobile device or a digital wallet associated withthe mobile device. Sales system 480 can obtain the identity and otherinformation from mobile device 165 via, in various embodiments, WiFi,3G, 4G, Near Field Communication (NFC), or Bluetooth, or can obtain theidentity and other information via a QR code or a bar code or anymachine readable code from the mobile device, for example, by scanning aQR code or bar code displayed by the mobile device.

Sales system 480 can obtain information from payment object 740 (i.e.the payment object information) sufficient to enable initiation of atransaction authorization, such as transaction authorization 245 of FIG.2, and sales system 480 can initiate the transaction authorization bytransmitting the payment object information and the transactioninformation to financial system 160A. The transaction authorization canbe to ensure that a payment mechanism, such as a credit account or bankaccount, associated with payment object 740 has access to adequate fundsto pay the total bill.

Sales system 480 and financial system 160A can establish a communicationchannel between themselves. Once established, sales system 480 cantransmit the transaction information and the payment object informationto financial system 160A to have the purchase transaction authorized.The transaction information can include an amount of the purchasetransaction and line items from the purchase transaction, and thepayment object information can include identity information for paymentobject 740 (i.e. payment object identity information). Financial system160A, after determining that payment object 740 is associated withcomputer system 150 based on, for example, the payment object identityinformation, transmits the transaction information and the paymentobject information to computer system 150. Computer system 150, havingaccess to a database that associates the payment object information withmobile device 165, transmits a message that causes the transactioninformation to be displayed on mobile device 165. Consumer 105 can usemobile device 165 to review the transaction information, for exampleconsumer 105 can make sure that the line items and the total amount arecorrect. As part of consumer 105's authorization of the transaction,consumer 105 can use mobile device 165 to electronically captureconsumer 105's signature or PIN, or to select the payment account to useto initiate the payment.

Mobile device 165, after electronically capturing consumer 105'ssignature or PIN number or payment account selection as part of consumer105's authorization of the transaction, can transmit this consumerauthorization information to computer system 150. Computer system 150,upon receipt of this consumer authorization information, can transmitthe consumer authorization information to financial system 160A.Financial system 160A can use the consumer authorization information,along with other information, to determine whether to authorize thepurchase transaction. Financial system 160A, upon determining toauthorize the purchase transaction, can transmit a transactionauthorization to sales system 480, and the cashier can complete thepurchase transaction. At this point, consumer 105 is free to leave thestore with the items that are part of the purchase transaction.

Payment object 740 can be compatible with financial system 160A, as wellas financial system 160 of FIG. 2, financial system 1606 of FIG. C, andfinancial system 160C of FIG. 8. In various embodiments, payment object740 can be a magnetic stripe card, a smart card, a proximity card, are-programmable magnetic stripe card, a card containing a quick response(QR) code, or a card containing a bar code. Payment object 740 can bevarious payment mechanisms or can be associated with various paymentmechanisms, including credit cards, charge cards, ATM cards, debitcards, pre-paid credit cards, pre-paid debit cards, gift cards, storedvalue cards, and fleet cards, among others. The payment mechanisms canbe associated with payment object 740 by, for example, being linked topayment object 740. The link can be implemented, for example, using adatabase which links or associates payment object 740 with the paymentmechanisms.

Further, payment object 740 can be associated with loyalty programs,wherein the loyalty programs are another type of payment mechanism whichcan be used to make the purchase. In some embodiments, payment object740 can be a mobile device. Examples of mobile devices includesmartphones such as an iPhone, tablets such as an iPad©, portable mediadevices such as an iPod©, wearable devices such as Google Glass© orSamsung Smartwatch©, or a laptop or other portable computer.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of components of or associated with a sixthembodiment of a system for authorizing a purchase transaction using amobile device. In this example, consumer 105 can be a customer of arestaurant. A waiter can take consumer 105's order using sales system480, for example a mobile device such as an iPad© with a coupled cardreader, consumer 105's order being part of a purchase transaction. Aftertaking consumer 105's order using sales system 480 (i.e. the iPad© withthe coupled card reader), the waiter can use sales system 480 to obtainpayment object information from payment object 740, payment object 740intended to pay for and used to pay for consumer 105's order (i.e. thepurchase transaction). For example, the waiter can use the card readercoupled to the iPad© (i.e. sales system 480) to obtain credit cardinformation (i.e. payment object information) from a credit card (i.e.payment object 740). The payment object information obtained frompayment object 740 can be sufficient to enable initiation of atransaction authorization by sales system 480. The transactionauthorization can be initiated by a transmission from sales system 480to computer system 150B.

When payment object 740 is a proxy card or proxy object, computer system150B can access a database containing association informationrepresenting an association between the proxy card or proxy object andmultiple payment accounts or other types of electronic accounts.Computer system 150B can determine a payment account to use to initiatethe payment in several ways. In one example, computer system 150B causesone or more of the payment accounts associated with the proxy card orproxy object to be displayed on mobile device 165, and consumer 105indicates a selection of the payment account to use to initiate thepayment. In another example, computer system 150B determines a paymentaccount associated with the proxy card or proxy object to use toinitiate the payment. The determination can be based on consumer 105having previously indicated a payment account to use for thistransaction, or based on the payment account used for previous purchasesat that merchant, or that day, or based on the user's location, or basedon only one payment account being linked to the proxy card or proxyobject.

Further, payment object 740 is compatible with financial system 160C, inthat financial system 160C can determine a payment mechanism that isassociated with payment object 740, and can determine whether to approvea purchase transaction made using payment object 740. For example, thecredit card (i.e. payment object 740) is compatible with financialsystem 160C, in that financial system 160C can determine a creditaccount that is associated with the credit card from which to obtainfunds to pay for the current purchase transaction. In some embodiments,financial system 160C can determine a credit account associated with thecredit card by performing a database operation to determine a creditaccount associated with the credit card. In some embodiments, financialsystem 160C can determine a credit account associated with the creditcard by receiving a message from computer system 1506 wherein themessage identifies a credit account that is associated with the creditcard. In some embodiments, sales system 480 can obtain credit accountinformation from payment object 740 and can transmit a messagecontaining the credit account information to computer system 150B, whichcan transmit the message to financial system 160C. Financial system 160Ccan determine a credit account associated with the credit card byreceiving the message and obtaining the credit account informationobtained from payment object 740 from the received message.

In some embodiments where payment object 740 is a mobile device, salessystem 480 can obtain digital wallet information associated with paymentobject 740 (i.e. the mobile device), and can initiate a transactionauthorization by transmitting information associated with the digitalwallet (i.e. the digital wallet information) and the purchasetransaction information to computer system 1506. The purchasetransaction information can include, for example, an amount of thepurchase. The transaction information can further include a displayenabling consumer 105 to enter or select a tip amount. FIG. 10 containsan example of a display on a mobile device enabling a customer to selecta tip amount. Other displays can enable a customer to enter a tipamount, the tip amount being any amount of money that the customerdesires to provide as a tip. In some embodiments, sales system 480 cantransmit part or all of the digital wallet information to a computeserver and the compute server can respond with a transmission containinga payment mechanism associated with the digital wallet. Sales system 480can then transmit the payment mechanism information and the purchasetransaction information to computer system 150B to initiate the purchasetransaction authorization.

In some embodiments, computer system 150B can determine a paymentmechanism, such as a credit card or a credit account that is associatedwith payment object 740, or a digital wallet that is associated withpayment object 740. Computer system 150B can transmit the paymentmechanism information and the purchase transaction information tofinancial system 160C. Financial system 160C can determine the paymentmechanism information by receiving the transmitted data from computersystem 150B and obtaining the payment mechanism information from thetransmitted data. Financial system 160C can further determine whether toapprove the purchase transaction, and when approved, can transmit anauthorization for the purchase transaction to computer system 1506.

In some embodiments, computer system 150B, having access to a databasethat associates payment object 740 with mobile device 165, transmits amessage that causes the purchase transaction information to be displayedon mobile device 165. Consumer 105 can use mobile device 165 to reviewthe transaction information, for example consumer 105 can make sure thatthe total amount is correct or can review line items of the purchasetransaction. The transaction information can also include a displayenabling consumer 105 to enter or select a tip amount, or some other wayof enabling consumer 105 to enter of select a tip amount. FIG. 10contains an example of transaction information for a different purchasetransaction (i.e. for a purchase transaction not related to the currentexample) being displayed on a smartphone. FIG. 10 also provides anexample of a display enabling a customer to select a tip amount. Otherdisplays can enable a customer to enter a tip amount, the tip amountbeing any amount of money that the customer desires to provide as a tip.

As part of an authorization of the transaction, consumer 105 can usemobile device 165 to electronically capture consumer 105's signature orPIN. In some embodiments, computer system 150B transmits the messagethat causes the purchase transaction information to be displayed onmobile device 165 before obtaining a transaction authorization for thecurrent purchase transaction from financial system 160C. In someembodiments, computer system 150B transmits the message that causes thepurchase transaction information to be displayed on mobile device 165after obtaining a transaction authorization for the current purchasetransaction from financial system 160C.

In some embodiments, financial system 160C will not provide atransaction authorization for the current purchase transaction untilfinancial system 160C receives consumer authorization information, suchas the data transmitted from mobile device 165 to computer system 150during consumer authorization 255 of FIG. 2. In some embodiments,financial system 160C will provide a transaction authorization for thecurrent purchase transaction before or even without receiving consumerauthorization information, such as the data transmitted from mobiledevice 165 to computer system 150 during consumer authorization 255 ofFIG. 2.

After computer system 150B transmits the message that causes thepurchase transaction information to be displayed on mobile device 165,mobile device 165 can electronically capturing consumer 105's signatureor PIN number. Consumer 105's signature or PIN can indicate consumer105's authorization of the purchase transaction. For some purchasetransactions, neither a signature nor a PIN is required. When neither asignature or PIN is required, consumer 105 can indicate an authorizationof the purchase transaction in any other compatible way. One example ofsuch a way is by selecting a virtual button on mobile device 165, thevirtual button indicating consumer 105's authorization of the purchasetransaction.

For example, mobile device 165 can display the text “Do you authorizethis purchase transaction,” and consumer 105 can either select a virtual“Yes” button to indicate that consumer 105 authorizes the purchasetransaction, or can select a virtual “No” button to indicate thatconsumer 105 declines the purchase transaction. Mobile device 165 cantransmit consumer 105's response to the authorization request (i.e. theconsumer authorization information), such as the electronically capturedsignature or the PIN number of the virtual button selection, to computersystem 1506.

When payment object 740 is a proxy card or proxy object, computer system1506 can cause a display containing, for example, a listing of one ormore of the payment accounts associated with the proxy card or proxyobject. Display 1300 of FIG. 13 contains an example of such a display.Consumer 105 can indicate a selection of a payment account to use toinitiate the payment, and the selection of the payment account can alsobe an authorization to obtain funds for the purchase from the paymentaccount. When the purchase transaction information includes a displayenabling or in some way enables consumer 105 to enter a tip amount, theconsumer authorization information can include a tip amount that isauthorized by consumer 105. The tip amount can be added to the totalamount of the purchase transaction.

In some embodiments, computer system 1506, upon receipt of the consumerauthorization information, can transmit the consumer authorizationinformation to financial system 160C. Financial system 160C can use theconsumer authorization information, along with other information, todetermine whether to authorize the purchase transaction. Financialsystem 160C, when it determines to authorize the purchase transaction,can transmit a transaction authorization to computer system 150B, andcomputer system 150B can transmit a similar transaction authorization tosales system 480 thereby completing the purchase transaction. At thispoint, consumer 105 is free to leave the restaurant, as consumer 105 haspaid the bill.

In some embodiments, computer system 150B has already obtained anauthorization for the purchase transaction from financial system 160Bprior to receipt of the consumer authorization information. Upon receiptof the consumer authorization information, and having already obtainedthe authorization for the purchase transaction from financial system160C, computer system 150B can transmit a purchase transactionauthorization to sales system 480 thereby completing the purchasetransaction. At this point, consumer 105 is free to leave therestaurant, as consumer 105 has paid the bill. In some embodiments,computer system 150B authorizes the purchase transaction, and sends thepurchase transaction authorization to sales system 480 therebycompleting the purchase transaction.

Payment mechanisms which can be associated with payment object 740include a credit card, a charge card, an automated teller machine (ATM)card, a debit card, a pre-paid credit card, a pre-paid debit card, agift card, a stored value card, a fleet card, and a loyalty program,among others.

A loyalty program can be associated with payment object 740, and aloyalty program can be a payment mechanism. For example, a mobile deviceor the digital wallet of a mobile device or a proxy card or proxy objectcan be associated with a loyalty program, and the loyalty program can beused to pay for a purchase transaction. A seller may be motivated toincentivize certain behaviors in customers. For example, the seller maywant the consumer to return to the seller's store, or to purchase acertain item, or to return to the store at a certain time or during acertain time window and make a purchase. To incentivize behaviors suchas these, a seller can participate in or offer a loyalty program. Theseller can provide loyalty points or some equivalent for each purchasemade by a consumer. By coming back to the seller's store and makingadditional purchases, the consumer can grow the consumer's loyaltypoints. The loyalty points can be redeemed for purchases made at theseller's store or another of the seller's stores or with otherbusinesses that participate in the loyalty program.

In addition to incentivizing loyalty to a store or a brand by providingloyalty points for purchases made at the store or for brand products, aseller can use the loyalty program to incentivize other behaviors. Forexample, if the store has a slow period, such as a coffee shop is slowbetween 3 pm and 4 pm, the store owner can, in order to incentivizeconsumers to make purchases at the store during this slow time, offerincreased loyalty points for purchases made between 3 pm and 4 pm at thestore. The store owner can also offer increased redemption value for aconsumer's loyalty points, or can lower the cost of products or servicesin terms of loyalty points, during this time window. For example, thestore owner could offer to redeem 100 loyalty points and provide 150points of value, or could reduce an item that normally costs 150 loyaltypoints to 100 loyalty points, for purchases made between 3 pm and 4 pm.As another example, if a business owner wants to incentivize consumersto purchase a new item the business owner is introducing, the businessowner can offer increased loyalty points to consumers for purchasingthis new item. The business owner can also offer increased loyalty pointredemption value or reduced loyalty point costs to a consumer forpurchasing this new item using loyalty program points. For example, ifthe new item can be normally purchased with 150 loyalty points, thebusiness owner can offer 150 points of loyalty program value for 100redeemed loyalty points to a consumer for purchasing this new item, orthe business owner can reduce the cost of the new item to 100 loyaltypoints.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operations of a secondembodiment of a method for authorizing a transaction using a mobiledevice. The following description of FIG. 9 will be described using theembodiment of FIG. 7, and will refer to labels of that figure. This is anon-limiting example and is done with the intent of making thedescription of FIG. 9 easier to understand.

Step 905 includes establishing a communications channel with a salessystem. Using the example of FIG. 7, sales system 480, which can beassociated with a seller, merchant, or payee, and computer system 150can establish a communication channel to facilitate communicationbetween each other (i.e. between sales system 480 and computer system150). For example, computer system 150 can establish a communicationschannel with sales system 480. The communications channel can be via anynetwork or other medium that supports communication between computersystem 150 and sales system 480, and it can be via one or moreintermediary computer systems, such as the computer system or systemsthat comprise financial system 160A.

Where the communications channel is via an intermediary computer system,the intermediary computer system can forward messages/data transmittedby sales system 480 to computer system 150 and can forward messages/datatransmitted by computer system 150 to sales system 480. Further, theintermediary computer system, while transmitting messages/data as partof the communications channel, can process the message/data transmittedby sales system 480 and computer system 150, and can change, transform,or replace the message/data before transmitting the message/data.Messages/data transmitted by sales system 480 do not need to beaddressed to computer system 150. For example, sales system 480 can senda message or data addressed to financial system 160A. Financial system160A can determine that the message/data should be transmitted tocomputer system 150, and can forward that message/data to computersystem 150. Further, financial system 160A can process the message/data,changing, transforming, or replacing the message/data, and can transmitthe processed message/data to computer system 150 as part of thecommunications channel. The communications channel can work similarly inthe opposite direction (i.e. from computer system 150 to sales system480).

The communications channel can be established using any communicationmedium or mediums supported by sales system 480 and computer system 150.For example, the communications channel can be established using aninternet protocol network (i.e., a network that supports the TCP/IPprotocol), a network that includes third generation telecommunications(i.e. 3G), a network that includes fourth generation telecommunications(i.e. 4G), a network that includes WiFi (i.e. IEEE 802.11b), and anetwork that includes Bluetooth, among others. Once the communicationschannel is established, messages/data transmitted by sales system 480can be received by computer system 150, and messages/data transmitted bycomputer system 150 can be received by sales system 480. As previouslydiscussed, the received messages/data can be processed by anintermediary computer system or systems.

Step 910 includes receiving transaction information associated with apurchase transaction. Using the example of FIG. 7, consumer 105 can makea purchase, which can be rung up by a cashier (or by consumer 105, whenthe sales system is a self-serve sales system), the purchase being partof a purchase transaction. Sales system 480 can transmit informationassociated with the purchase transaction (i.e. transaction information),such as the total amount of the purchase transaction or a list of lineitems of the purchase transaction or identifying information for theseller/merchant/payee using sales system 480 to process the payment. Thetransmitted transaction information can be addressed to computer system150, or can be addressed to financial system 160A, or can be addressedto another other computer system. Computer system 150A can receive, fromsales system 480, the transaction information associated with thepurchase transaction, as per step 910. Sales system 480 can transmit thetransaction information addressed to computer system 150, or cantransmit the transaction information to an intermediary computer systemor systems, which can process the transaction information and transmitthe transaction information to computer system 150.

Step 915 includes receiving identity information associated with apayment object. The payment object was used to pay for the purchasetransaction. Using the example of FIG. 7, the payment object can bepayment object 740. For example, payment object 740 can be a creditcard. Consumer 105 can use the credit card to pay for the purchasetransaction, and credit card information associated with the credit card(i.e. payment object information associated with payment object 740),including identity information, can be obtained by sales system 480 by,for example, swiping the credit card using a card reader that is part ofsales system 480. Sales system 480 can transmit the identityinformation, which is part of the payment object information, along withother information such as the transaction information. Computer system150 can receive the identity information that is associated with thecredit card (i.e. that is associated with payment object 740), as perstep 915, and the other information as well. The transaction informationcan include, for example, an amount of the purchase transaction, alisting of line items associated with the purchase transaction, adisplay enabling consumer 105 to enter or select a tip amount for thepurchase transaction, or any other method of enabling consumer 105 toenter or select a tip amount for the purchase transaction, among otherinformation.

Step 920 includes determining information for a mobile device associatedwith the payment object. Using the example of FIG. 7, computer system150 can have access to a database that associates payment objects withmobile devices. The database can be local to computer system 150, or canbe stored on a remote computer system and computer system 150 can accessthe database stored on the remote computer system. In some embodimentswhere computer system 150 has access to the database, computer system150 can perform a database operation to determine information, forexample contact information such as an IP address or a phone number, ofa mobile device associated with a payment object. For example, computersystem 150 can perform a database lookup using the identifyinginformation for the payment object, and the database lookup can returnidentifying information for mobile device 165. In some embodiments,computer system 150 can communicate with an alternative computer systemthat can provide information regarding a mobile device that isassociated with a payment object. In these embodiments, computer system150 can determine information associated with a mobile device associatedwith the payment object by transmitting information related to thepayment object, such as identifying information for a credit card, tothe alternative computer system, and the alternative computer system canrespond with information regarding a mobile device that is associatedwith the payment object, such as identifying information or contactinformation for a mobile device that is associated with the credit card.

Step 925 includes causing an authorization request to be transmitted tothe mobile device. Using the example of FIG. 7, computer system 150 cancause an authorization request, to authorize the purchase transaction,to be transmitted to mobile device 165. In some embodiments, computersystem 150 can transmit machine readable code to mobile device 165, andthe machine readable code, when received by mobile device 165, can causea request to authorize the purchase transaction to be displayed onmobile device 165. For example, mobile device 165 can display a requestto authorize a purchase transaction that would appear similar to theillustration of FIG. 10. In some embodiments, computer system 150 cantransmit a message to an alternative computer system, and thealternative computer system can transmit an authorization request toauthorize the purchase transaction to mobile device 165. For example,computer system 150 can transmit a message to sales system 480, andsales system 480 can transmit an authorization request to authorize thepurchase transaction to mobile device 165. The transmission from salessystem 480 to mobile device 165 can be via any medium supported by bothdevices. For example, the transmission can be via Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G,4G, or any other available medium.

When the payment object is a proxy card or proxy object, computer system150 can cause a display containing, for example, a listing of one ormore of the payment accounts associated with the proxy card or proxyobject. Display 1300 of FIG. 13 contains an example of such a display.Consumer 105 can indicate a selection of a payment account to use toinitiate the payment, and the selection of the payment account can alsobe an authorization to obtain funds for the purchase from the paymentaccount.

Further, the authorization request can include a display or some othermechanism enabling consumer 105 to select or enter a tip amount. Forexample, the display or other mechanism can present several tip optionsto consumer 105, and consumer 105 can select a tip amount from amongstthese tip options. As a second example, the display may have a tipamount field, and the consumer can enter any monetary amount in thisfield. The tip amount can be added to the purchase transaction, and thetotal amount of the purchase transaction can include the tip amount.Additionally, the authorization request can include other informationrelated to the purchase transaction. For example, the authorizationrequest can include a listing of line items of the purchase transaction.One example of a display that includes a listing of line items of apurchase transaction is the illustration of FIG. 10, where the lineitems “Vanilla Spice Latte,” “Peach Muffin,” and “Chocolate Cookie” aredisplayed.

Step 930 includes causing a listing of the line items of the purchasetransaction to be displayed at the mobile device. Using the example ofFIG. 7, computer system 150 can cause, when the authorization requestincludes a listing of line items from the purchase transaction, at leastone of the line items of the purchase transaction to be displayed atmobile device 165. In some embodiments, computer system 150 cantransmit, as part of transmitting the authorization request, machinereadable code to mobile device 165. The machine readable code, whenreceived by mobile device 165, can cause line items of the purchasetransaction to be displayed on mobile device 165. For example, mobiledevice 165 can display a listing of line items of the authorize apurchase transaction that would appear similar to the illustration ofFIG. 10, where the line items “Vanilla Spice Latte,” “Peach Muffin,” and“Chocolate Cookie” are displayed. In some embodiments, when theauthorization request includes a listing of line items from the purchasetransaction, none of the line items from the purchase transaction aredisplayed on the mobile device.

In some embodiments, computer system 150 can transmit a message to analternative computer system, and the alternative computer system cantransmit a machine readable code to mobile device 165. The machinereadable code, when received by mobile device 165, can cause line itemsof the purchase transaction to be displayed on mobile device 165. Forexample, computer system 150 can transmit a message to sales system 480,and sales system 480 can transmit a message to mobile device 165. Themessage, when received by mobile device 165, can cause a listing of lineitems of the purchase transaction to be displayed on mobile device 165.The transmission from sales system 480 to mobile device 165 can be viaany medium supported by both devices. For example, the transmission canbe via Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, 4G, or any other available medium.

Step 935 includes receiving a response to the authorization requestincluding response information. Using the example of FIG. 7, mobiledevice 165 can send a response to the authorization request, andcomputer system 150 can receive, from mobile device 165, the response tothe authorization request. The response to the authorization request canbe addressed to computer system 150, or can be addressed to anintermediary system, and the intermediary system can receive theresponse to the authorization request transmit to the authorizationrequest to computer system 150. Further, the intermediary computersystem can change, transform, or replace the response to theauthorization request before transmitting the response to theauthorization request to computer system 150. For example, consumer 105can click a virtual button on mobile device 165 to authorize a purchasetransaction. Mobile device 165 can send the (X,Y) coordinate of theclick to an intermediary computer system, the (X,Y) coordinate beingresponse information. The intermediary computer system, understandingthat the (X,Y) coordinate indicates that the virtual button authorizingthe purchase transaction, can transmit a message to computer system 150,not with the (X,Y) coordinate, but rather with an indication thatconsumer 105 accepted the purchase transaction. The response informationcan include other information, such as a tip amount for the purchasetransaction or an indication of a selection of a payment account to useto initiate the payment.

Step 940 includes sending the response information to a financialsystem. Using the example of FIG. 7, financial system 160A can transmita message authorizing the purchase transaction to sales system 480.Therefore, financial system 160A is configured to transmit a messageauthorizing the purchase transaction to sales system 480. Computersystem 150 can transmit at least part of the response information tofinancial system 160A. For example, computer system 150 can transmitresponse information such as an indication that consumer 105 acceptedthe purchase transaction, or a tip amount, or a total amount of thepurchase transaction including a tip amount, or an indication of aselected payment account, to financial system 160A. Accordingly,computer system 150 can transmit at least part of the responseinformation to financial system 160A, as per step 940.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of an example of proxy cards being associatedwith association information. First consumer 1140 and second consumer1190 each have a proxy card, first consumer 1140 having first proxy card1130, and second consumer 1190 having second proxy card 1180. In anembodiment, a proxy card is a card associated with multiple electronicaccounts where the association is maintained by a server. The proxy cardcan also be associated with additional data. First consumer 1140 andsecond consumer 1190 each have a mobile device, first consumer 1140having mobile device 1141, and second consumer 1190 having mobile device1191. Proxy cards 1130 and 1180 are each associated with associationinformation 1101, which includes first card association information 1103and second card association information 1153.

First proxy card 1130 is associated with first card associationinformation 1103, which includes user A 1105, mobile device data 1110,first account 1120, second account 1121, and user address 1125. User Ais a representation of first consumer 1140 and can be the consumer'saccount, the name of the consumer, an identifying indicator of theconsumer such as a social security number, a driver's license number, ora number or character string that is unique and is associated with theconsumer, among other things. Mobile device data 1110 is arepresentation of data associated with a mobile device of the consumer,in this case mobile device 1141 of first consumer 1140. Mobile devicedata 1110 includes contact information 1115, which is information as tohow to contact mobile device 1141.

A mobile device can be contacted, for example, by an internet protocol(IP) message, a text message, an email message, among other methods ofcontact. Contact information 1115 includes IP address 1116 and phonenumber 1117. When an IP message is sent, IP address 1116 can be used tosend the message to mobile device 1141. When a text message is sent,phone number 1117 can be used to send the text message to mobile device1141. When an email message is sent, an email address (not shown), whichcan be associated with contact information 1115, can be used to send theemail message to mobile device 1141. First account 1120 and secondaccount 1121 are electronic accounts that are associated with firstproxy card 1130. User address 1125 is the mailing address of firstconsumer 1140.

Second proxy card 1180 is associated with second card associationinformation 1153, which includes user B 1155, mobile device data 1160,first account 1170, second account 1171, and user address 1175. User Bis a representation of second consumer 1190 and can be the consumer'saccount, the name of the consumer, an identifying indicator of theconsumer such as a social security number, a driver's license number, ora number or character string that is unique and is associated with theconsumer, among other things. Mobile device data 1160 is arepresentation of data associated with a mobile device of the consumer,in this case mobile device 1191 of second consumer 1190. Mobile devicedata 1160 includes contact information 1165, which is information as tohow to contact mobile device 1191.

A mobile device can be contacted, for example, by an internet protocol(IP) message, a text message, an email message, among other methods ofcontact. Contact information 1165 includes IP address 1166 and phonenumber 1167. When an IP message is sent, IP address 1166 can be used tosend the message to mobile device 1191. When a text message is sent,phone number 1167 can be used to send the text message to mobile device1191. When an email message is sent, an email address (not shown), whichcan be associated with contact information 1165, can be used to send theemail message to mobile device 1191. First account 1170 and secondaccount 1171 are electronic accounts that are associated with secondproxy card 1180. User address 1175 is the mailing address of secondconsumer 1190.

In various embodiments, the association information is generated invarious ways. To generate first card association information 1103, firstconsumer 1140 can use a website to create a login account, informationfor which can be at user A 1105. First consumer 1140 can enter variousinformation related to mobile device 1141 using the website, and thatinformation can comprise mobile device data 1110. First consumer 1140can enter information for various electronic accounts using the website,and the electronic accounts can be added to first card associationinformation 1103, such as at first account 1120 and second account 1121.First consumer 1140 can enter his mailing address using the website, andthis information can be added to first card association information1103, such as at user address 1125. Alternately, first consumer 1140 cansend a text message or an email to cause first card associationinformation 1103 to be generated, or any portion of first cardassociation information 1103 to be generated. For example, firstconsumer 1140 can create a login account using the website. Firstconsumer 1140 can send a text message to create mobile device data 1110,or can run an application on mobile device 1141, which can sendinformation obtained from mobile device 1141 to cause part or all offirst card association information 1103 to be generated. A person ofordinary skill will appreciate that there are many ways to cause theassociation information to be generated.

In various embodiments, the electronic accounts associated with a proxycard are electronic accounts associated with credit cards, debit cards,charge cards, automated teller machine (ATM) cards, pre-paid creditcards, pre-paid debit cards, pre-paid gift cards, stored value cards,fleet cards, gift cards, library cards, loyalty cards, identificationcards, among others. In various embodiments, a proxy card can be amagnetic stripe card, a smart card, a proximity card, a re-programmablemagnetic stripe card, a card or device containing a quick response (QR)code, or a card containing a bar code. In some embodiments, a proxyobject can be used in place of a proxy card. The proxy object can be,among other objects, a mobile device, such as a tablet computer, asmartphone, a laptop computer, a wearable device, or a portable mediadevice, or can be a biometrically identifiable object, such as a finger,a hand, an iris, a retina, or a face.

In various embodiments, association information 1101 can contain otherinformation, such as additional electronic accounts, data for additionalmobile devices, data for additional users of a proxy card, such as thespouse or other relative of a consumer who had a proxy card, or businessassociates of a consumer who has a proxy card. In various embodiments,association information 1101 can include less information. In variousembodiments association information 1101 is stored in a database, a datastructure, a file, or any combination of one or more of a database, adata structure, or a file. In various embodiments, the associationinformation can be organized hierarchically, including multiple levelsof hierarchy, or can have a flat organization. A person of ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the association information can bestored in various ways using various mechanisms and organizations.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating exemplary operations of a thirdembodiment of a method for authorizing a payment transaction using amobile device. Step 1205 includes initiating a payment using a paymentcard. The payment card can be, for example, a proxy card, and thefollowing discussion of FIG. 12 will use a proxy card as the paymentcard. A consumer can present the proxy card to make a payment associatedwith a financial transaction. For example, the consumer can purchase acoffee from a merchant. To pay for the coffee, the consumer can presentthe proxy card to the merchant. The payment can be initiated based onthe proxy card being used to initiate a payment to the merchant byswiping the proxy card using a card reader, an optical scanner, etc.associated with and/or coupled to the merchant's payment terminalsystem, for example a POS system.

Step 1210 includes receiving an indication of initiation of a paymenttransaction. Step 1210 can occur after step 1205. A computer system,such as computer system 150 of FIG. 1, receives an indication of apayment transaction. The indication of the payment transaction can bethe receipt of transaction information for the payment transaction, thereceipt of identifying information for the proxy card, the receipt of arequest to authorize a transaction, etc.

Step 1215 includes receiving transaction information associated with afinancial transaction. Step 1215 can occur after step 1205 or before orafter step 1210. The merchant's payment terminal system sendstransaction information, such as the amount of the payment, a listing ofitems associated with the payment, or identifying information for themerchant, to a financial system, such as financial system 160A ofFIG. 1. The transaction information is sent partly to obtainauthorization for a payment made in association with a financialtransaction. Financial system 160A relays the transaction information toa computer system, such as computer system 150, where it is accordinglyreceived.

Step 1220 includes receiving payment card information. Step 1220 canoccur after steps 1205 or 1210, or before or after step 1215. Themerchant's payment terminal system sends identifying information for theproxy card, such as the information obtained during the swipe of theproxy card, to a financial system, such as financial system 160A. Theidentifying information is sent partly to obtain authorization for apayment made in association with a financial transaction. Financialsystem 160A relays the identifying information to a computer system,such as computer system 150, where it is accordingly received.

Step 1222 includes accessing a database that includes stored associationinformation representing an association between the payment card and atleast one payment account. Step 1222 can occur after steps 1205-1220. Acomputer system, such as computer system 150, can access the database.The association information can be, for example, association information1101 of FIG. 11, and includes information related to accounts associatedwith the proxy card. The database can be accessed for many reasons. Forexample, the computer system can access the database to determine one ormore of the payment accounts that are associated with the proxy card,such as first account 1120 and/or second account 1121, or can access thedatabase to obtain an address for the holder of the proxy card, such asuser address 1125.

Step 1224 includes accessing a database that includes stored associationinformation representing an association between the payment card andcontact information for a mobile device. Step 1224 can occur after steps1205-1220, and before or after step 1222. A computer system, such ascomputer system 150, can access the database. The associationinformation can be, for example, association information 1101 of FIG.11, and includes contact information for a mobile device, such ascontact information 1115 of FIG. 11 for mobile device 1141. The computersystem can access the database to obtain contact information, such as IPaddress 1116 or phone number 1117, so that communication can beestablished with the mobile device.

Step 1226 includes determining one or more payment accounts associatedwith the payment card. Step 1222 can occur after steps 1205-1222. Acomputer system, such as computer system 150, can determine one or morepayment accounts associated with the proxy card. When the payment cardis a credit card, the computer system can determine the payment accountassociated with the credit card. The computer system can make thisdetermination based on the database access of step 1222, or based onidentifying information obtained from the payment card during the cardswipe, or in other ways. For example, the computer system can determinethe payment accounts by communicating with a remote computer that ispart of a different computer system. The remote computer can, forexample, perform a database access to determine one or more paymentaccount associated with the proxy card, and send information related tothe payment account(s) to the computer system. When the computer systemreceives information related to the payment account(s), the computersystem has determined the one or more payment accounts associated withthe payment card.

Step 1228 includes determining contact information for a mobile deviceassociated with the payment card. Step 1228 can occur after steps1205-1220 or 1224, and before or after steps 1222 or 1226. A computersystem, such as computer system 150, can determine contact informationfor a mobile device associated with the proxy card. The computer systemcan make this determination based on the database access of step 1222.For example, when the payment card is a credit card, the computer systemcan access a database, such as the database of step 1222, thatassociates identifying information from the credit card and contactinformation for a mobile device.

Step 1230 includes causing a portion of the association information,such as one or more payment accounts associated with the proxy card, tobe displayed. Step 1230 can be after steps 1226 or 1222, and before orafter steps 1228 or 1224. A computer system, such as computer system150, can cause a portion of the association information to be displayed.The computer system causes information related to the one or morepayment accounts associated with the proxy card to be displayed on amobile device, such as mobile device 1141.

Step 1235 includes sending or causing to be sent a transaction eventassociated with the payment transaction. Step 1235 can be after 1228 or1224, or before or after 1230. A computer system, such as computersystem 150, can send the transaction event or cause the transactionevent to be sent to a mobile device, such as mobile device 1141. In anembodiment, the transaction event is to cause the consumer to indicate,using the mobile device, a selection of a payment account of the paymentaccounts to use in processing the payment transaction. The transactionevent can be the sending of a signal/message/text/email/etc. that causesthe display of an image related to the transaction at the mobile device.For example, the transaction event can be the sending of asignal/message/text/email/etc. that causes a listing of one or more ofthe payment accounts associated with the proxy card to be displayed onthe mobile device. The listing is associated with the paymenttransaction in that the consumer can indicate a selection of one of thepayment accounts to use to obtain funds for the payment transaction.

In an embodiment, the transaction event is to cause the consumer toindicate, using the mobile device, a tip amount associated with thepayment transaction. The transaction event can be the sending of asignal/message/text/email/etc. that causes the display of an tippinginterface, such as the interface of FIG. 10, at the mobile device. Thetransaction event is associated with the payment transaction, in that itcauses the tip amount associated with the payment transaction to beindicated. In an embodiment, the transaction even is to cause theconsumer to provide, using the mobile device, an electronic signature.The electronic signature can be to indicate that the consumer agrees tothe terms of the payment transaction. The transaction event can be thesending of a signal/message/text/email/etc. that causes the display of asignature capturing interface to be displayed at the mobile device. Thetransaction event is associated with the payment transaction in that thecaptured electronic signature indicates acceptance of the paymenttransaction by the consumer.

In an embodiment, the transaction event is to cause the consumer toprovide, using the mobile device, at least one of a personalidentification number (PIN) of the consumer, a password of the consumer,or a pass phrase of the consumer. The transaction event can be thesending of a signal/message/text/email/etc. that causes the display ofan interface to capture the PIN, password, or passphrase. Thetransaction event is associated with the payment transaction in that thecaptured PIN, password, or passphrase indicate acceptance of the paymenttransaction by the consumer.

Step 1240 includes receiving response information. Step 1240 can beafter step 1230 or before or after step 1235. A mobile device, such asmobile device 1141, can send the response information, which can bereceived by a computer system, such as computer system 150. As examples,the response information can include: an indication of a response madeby the consumer in response to the transaction event; an indication of aselection of a payment account of the payment accounts to use inprocessing the payment transaction; an indication of a tip amountassociated with the payment transaction; an electronic signature, insome embodiments to indicate that the consumer agrees to the terms ofthe payment transaction; a PIN; a password; or a passphrase, amongothers.

Step 1245 includes causing the payment transaction to be processed inaccordance with the response information. A computer system, such ascomputer system 150, causes the payment transaction to be processed inaccordance with the response information received at step 1240. When theresponse information indicates a selection of a payment account of thepayment accounts to use in processing the payment transaction, thecomputer system causes the payment transaction to be processed using theselected payment account. When the response information indicates a tipamount associated with the payment transaction, the computer systemcauses the processing of the payment transaction to include the tipamount. When the response information includes an electronic signatureindicating acceptance of the terms of the purchase transaction, thecomputer system causes the purchase transaction to be processed inaccordance with the acceptance. When the response information includes aPIN, password, or passphrase, the computer system causes the paymenttransaction to be obtained from the payment account associated with thePIN, password, or passphrase.

Step 1245 includes causing funds to be transferred from a paymentaccount to an account associated with the payee. A computer system, suchas computer system 150, causes the funds to be transferred. When thepayment card is a proxy card, and one of the associated payment accountsis selected, the computer system causes funds to be transferred from theselected payment account to an account associated with the merchant(i.e. the payee). When the payment card is associated with only onepayment account, the computer system causes funds to be transferred fromthe one payment account to an account associated with the merchant (i.e.the payee).

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exampleform of a computer system within which a set of instructions, forcausing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies ormodules discussed herein, may be executed. In the example of FIG. 14,the computer system 1400 includes a processor, memory, non-volatilememory, and an interface device. Various common components (e.g., cachememory) are omitted for illustrative simplicity. The computer system1400 is intended to illustrate a hardware device on which any of thecomponents depicted in the example of FIGS. 1-13 (and any othercomponents described in this specification) can be implemented. Thecomputer system 1400 can be of any applicable known or convenient type.The components of the computer system 1400 can be coupled together via abus or through some other known or convenient device.

This disclosure contemplates the computer system 1400 taking anysuitable physical form. As example and not by way of limitation,computer system 1400 may be an embedded computer system, asystem-on-chip (SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, forexample, a computer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), adesktop computer system, a laptop or notebook computer system, aninteractive kiosk, a mainframe, a mesh of computer systems, a mobiletelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server, or acombination of two or more of these. Where appropriate, computer system1400 may include one or more computer systems 1400; be unitary ordistributed; span multiple locations; span multiple machines; or residein a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one ormore networks. Where appropriate, one or more computer systems 1400 mayperform without substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or moresteps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. As anexample and not by way of limitation, one or more computer systems 1400may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of one ormore methods described or illustrated herein. One or more computersystems 1400 may perform at different times or at different locationsone or more steps of one or more methods described or illustratedherein, where appropriate.

The processor may be, for example, a conventional microprocessor such asan Intel Core microprocessor or an Intel Itanium microprocessor or aMotorola power PC microprocessor or a SPARC architecture processor. Oneof skill in the relevant art will recognize that the terms“machine-readable (storage) medium” or “computer-readable (storage)medium” include any type of device that is accessible by the processor.

The memory is coupled to the processor by, for example, a bus. Thememory can include, by way of example but not limitation, random accessmemory (RAM), such as dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). Thememory can be local, remote, or distributed.

The bus also couples the processor to the non-volatile memory and driveunit. The non-volatile memory cane be a magnetic floppy or hard disk, amagnetic-optical disk, an optical disk, a flash memory such as NANDflash memory or NOR flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM) such as aCD-ROM, a programmable read-only memory such as EPROM or EEPROM, amagnetic or optical card, or another form of storage for large amountsof data. Some of this data is often written, by a direct memory accessprocess, into memory during execution of software in the computer 1400.The non-volatile storage can be local, remote, or distributed. Thenon-volatile memory is optional because systems can be created with allapplicable data available in memory. A typical computer system willusually include at least a processor, memory, and a device (e.g., a bus)coupling the memory to the processor.

Software is typically stored in the non-volatile memory and/or the driveunit. Indeed, for large programs, storing the entire program in memorymay not even be possible. Nevertheless, one should understand that forsoftware to run, if necessary, the software is moved to a computerreadable location appropriate for processing, and for illustrativepurposes, that location is referred to as the memory in this paper. Evenwhen software is moved to the memory for execution, the processor willtypically make use of hardware registers to store values associated withthe software, and local cache that, ideally, serves to speed upexecution. As used herein, a software program is assumed to be stored atany known or convenient location (from non-volatile storage to hardwareregisters) when the software program is referred to as “implemented in acomputer-readable medium.” A processor is considered to be “configuredto execute a program” when at least one value associated with theprogram is stored in a register readable by the processor.

The bus also couples the processor to the network interface device. Theinterface can include one or more of a modem or network interface. Aperson of ordinary skill will appreciate that a modem or networkinterface can be considered to be part of the computer system 1400. Theinterface can include an analog modem, ISDN modem, cable modem, tokenring interface, satellite transmission interface (e.g. “direct PC”),Wi-Fi interface, or other interfaces for coupling a computer system toother computer systems. The interface can include one or more inputand/or output devices. The I/O devices can include, by way of examplebut not limitation, a keyboard, a mouse or other pointing device, diskdrives, printers, a scanner, and other input and/or output devices,including a display device. The display device can include, by way ofexample but not limitation, a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), or some other applicable known or convenient displaydevice. For simplicity, this disclosure assumes that controllers of anydevices not depicted in the example of FIG. 14 reside in the interface.

The computer system can have one Bus or multiple Buses. A bus caninclude for example, a system bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect(PCI) bus or PCI-Express bus, a HyperTransport or industry standardarchitecture (ISA) bus, a small computer system interface (SCSI) bus, auniversal serial bus (USB, USB 2.0, USB 3.0), IIC (I2C) bus, anInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 1394bus, also called “Firewire,” a QuickPath Interconnect bus, a ThunderBoltinterconnect bus, a DisplayPort interconnect bus or its companionstandards Mini DisplayPort (mDP), Direct Drive Monitor (DDM), EmbeddedDisplayPort (eDP), Internal DisplayPort (iDP), Portable Digital MediaInterface (PDMI), Wireless DisplayPort (wDP), and Mobility DisplayPort(MyDP), an HDMI interconnect bus, a DVI bus.

In operation, the computer system 1400 can be controlled by operatingsystem software that includes a file management system, such as a diskoperating system. One example of operating system software withassociated file management system software is the family of operatingsystems known as Windows® from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.,and their associated file management systems. Another example ofoperating system software with its associated file management systemsoftware is the Linux™ operating system and its associated filemanagement system. The file management system is typically stored in thenon-volatile memory and/or drive unit and causes the processor toexecute the various acts required by the operating system to input andoutput data and to store data in the memory, including storing files onthe non-volatile memory and/or drive unit.

Some portions of the detailed description may be presented in terms ofalgorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bitswithin a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are the means used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their workto others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally,conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations leading to adesired result. The operations are those requiring physicalmanipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily,these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capableof being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwisemanipulated. Referring to these signals as bits, values, elements,symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like has proven convenientat times, principally for reasons of common usage.

One should bear in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussion,one should appreciate that throughout the description, discussionsutilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or“determining” or “displaying” or “generating” or the like, refer to theaction and processes of a computer system, or similar electroniccomputing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented asphysical (electronic) quantities within registers and memories of thecomputer system into other data similarly represented as physicalquantities within the computer system memories or registers or othersuch information storage, transmission or display devices.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently relatedto any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general purposesystems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachingsherein, or constructing more specialized apparatus to perform themethods of some embodiments may prove more convenient. The requiredstructure for a variety of these systems will appear from thedescription below. In addition, the techniques are not described withreference to any particular programming language, and variousembodiments may thus be implemented using a variety of programminglanguages.

In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone deviceor may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient machine in a client-server network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may be a server computer, a client computer, a personalcomputer (PC), a laptop computer, a tablet, a set-top box (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, an iPhone, aBlackberry, a smartphone, a processor, a telephone, a web appliance, anetwork router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing aset of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to betaken by that machine.

While the machine-readable medium or machine-readable storage medium isshown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term“machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage medium” shouldbe taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches andservers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term“machine-readable medium” and “machine-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encodingor carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and thatcause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies ormodules of the presently disclosed technique and innovation.

In general, the routines executed to implement the embodiments of thedisclosure, may be implemented as part of an operating system or aspecific application, component, program, object, module or sequence ofinstructions referred to as “computer programs.” The computer programstypically comprise one or more instructions set at various times invarious memory and storage devices in a computer, and that, when readand executed by one or more processing units or processors in acomputer, cause the computer to perform operations to execute elementsinvolving the various aspects of the disclosure.

Moreover, while embodiments have been described in the context of fullyfunctioning computers and computer systems, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that the various embodiments are capable of beingdistributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that thedisclosure applies equally regardless of the particular type of machineor computer-readable media used to actually effect the distribution.

Further examples of machine-readable storage media, machine-readablemedia, or computer-readable (storage) media include but are not limitedto recordable type media such as volatile and non-volatile memorydevices, floppy and other removable disks, hard disk drives, opticaldisks (e.g., Compact Disk Read-Only Memory (CD ROMS), Digital VersatileDisks, (DVDs), etc.), Blu-ray disks, among others, and transmission typemedia such as digital and analog communication links.

In some circumstances, operation of a memory device, such as a change instate from a binary one to a binary zero or vice-versa, for example, maycomprise a transformation, such as a physical transformation. Withparticular types of memory devices, such a physical transformation maycomprise a physical transformation of an article to a different state orthing. For example, but without limitation, for some types of memorydevices, a change in state may involve an accumulation and storage ofcharge or a release of stored charge. Likewise, in other memory devices,a change of state may comprise a physical change or transformation inmagnetic orientation or a physical change or transformation in molecularstructure, such as from crystalline to amorphous or vice versa. Theforegoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all examples inwhich a change in state for a binary one to a binary zero or vice-versain a memory device may comprise a transformation, such as a physicaltransformation. Rather, the foregoing is intended as illustrativeexamples.

A storage medium typically may be non-transitory or comprise anon-transitory device. In this context, a non-transitory storage mediummay include a device that is tangible, meaning that the device has aconcrete physical form, although the device may change its physicalstate. Thus, for example, non-transitory refers to a device remainingtangible despite this change in state.

A person having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that there arevarious other ways to implement the described functionality. The scopeof this disclosure also includes embodiments implementing the describedfunctionality in these various other ways. Accordingly, the scope of thepresent disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims,together with all equivalents thereof.

Numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled inthe art will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention may bepracticed without some of these specific details. In other instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form.

Embodiments of the present invention include various steps. The stepsmay be performed by hardware components or may be embodied inmachine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause ageneral-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with theinstructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may beperformed by a combination of hardware, software and/or firmware.

1-29. (canceled)
 30. A method comprising: accessing a database, by acomputer system, in response to an initiation of a payment transaction,to obtain an identifier associated in the database with a payment cardused at a payment terminal of a seller, the payment card being linked,in the database, with a plurality of payment accounts of a consumer;transmitting a selection message, by the computer system, based on theidentifier, to a mobile device associated with the consumer, wherein thetransmitted selection message triggers an application executing at themobile device to display at the mobile device a selection interface that(i) includes a listing of the plurality of payment accounts and (ii)enables the consumer to select a payment account of the plurality ofpayment accounts to use for the payment transaction; transmitting atransaction message, by the computer system, to the mobile device basedon the identifier, wherein the transmitted transaction message triggersthe application executing at the mobile device to display at the mobiledevice an authorization interface that includes transaction information,received from the payment terminal system of the seller, related to thepayment transaction; receiving, from the application, by the computersystem, an authorization message indicating (a) the consumer's selectionof a payment account of the plurality of payment accounts, the selectionhaving been generated in response to the consumer inputting data via theselection interface and (b) the consumer's authorization of payment, theauthorization having been generated in response to the consumerinputting data via the authorization interface; and based on theauthorization message, causing funds for the payment transaction to beobtained based on the selected payment account.
 31. The method of claim30, wherein the authorization interface further requires the consumer toindicate, using the mobile device, a tip amount associated with thepayment transaction.
 32. The method of claim 30, wherein theauthorization interface further enables the consumer to input a tipamount associated with the payment transaction, and wherein the methodfurther comprises, based on the authorization message, causing fundscorresponding to the tip amount to be obtained based on the selectedpayment account.
 33. The method of claim 30, wherein the authorizationinterface further requires the consumer to provide, using the mobiledevice, an electronic signature to indicate that the consumer agrees toterms of the payment transaction.
 34. The method of claim 30, whereinthe authorization interface further requires the consumer to provide,using the mobile device, at least one of: a personal identificationnumber (PIN), a password, or a pass phrase.
 35. The method of claim 30,wherein the consumer inputs data via one or more of: a keyboard, analpha-numeric input device, a cursor control device, a mouse, a pointingdevice, a touch-sensitive pad, or a touch-sensitive screen.
 36. Themethod of claim 30, wherein the identifier includes one or more of: aninternet protocol (IP) address associated with the mobile device or aphone number associated with the mobile device.
 37. A system comprising:a processor; a storage device communicatively coupled to the processor;and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memorystoring instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause thesystem to perform the steps comprising: accessing the storage device,based on an indication of initiation of a payment transaction receivedfrom a financial transaction system, to obtain an identifier, whereinthe storage device stores information associating a payment card used ata card reader coupled to a payment terminal system of a seller with (a)the identifier and (b) a plurality of payment accounts of a consumer;transmitting, based on the identifier, to a mobile device associatedwith the consumer, a selection message that triggers an applicationexecuting at the mobile device to display (a) information identifyingone or more of the plurality of payment accounts and (b) a selectioninterface that requires the consumer to indicate, by use of an inputdevice of the mobile device, a selection of a payment account of theplurality of payment accounts; transmitting to the mobile device, basedon the identifier, a transaction message that triggers an applicationexecuting at the mobile device to display (a) transaction information ofthe payment transaction and (b) an authorization interface that requiresthe consumer to indicate, by use of the input device of the mobiledevice, an authorization of payment to complete the payment transaction;receiving, from the mobile device, an authorization message indicating(a) the consumer's selection of a payment account of the plurality ofpayment accounts and (b) the consumer's authorization of payment; andcausing the payment transaction to be processed based on the selectedpayment account.
 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the memory storesinstructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause thesystem to perform steps comprising: accessing a database at the storagedevice to obtain account information for the payment account that wasselected; and transmitting the account information to a financial systemto obtain a transaction authorization for the payment transaction, thetransaction authorization indicating that the payment account that wasselected has access to adequate funds for the payment.
 39. The system ofclaim 37, wherein the authorization interface further requires theconsumer to provide, using the mobile device, an electronic signature toindicate that the consumer agrees to terms of the payment transaction.40. The system of claim 39, wherein the memory stores instructions that,when executed by the processor, further cause the system to performsteps comprising: transmitting the electronic signature for use inresolving a dispute related to the payment transaction.
 41. The systemof claim 37, wherein the authorization interface further requires theconsumer to indicate, using the mobile device, a tip amount associatedwith the payment transaction.
 42. The system of claim 37, wherein thetransaction message that triggers the application communicatesinformation related to a transaction event that requires the consumer toprovide, using the mobile device, at least one of a personalidentification number (PIN) of the consumer, a password of the consumer,or a pass phrase of the consumer.
 44. The system of claim 37, whereinthe input device comprises one or more of: a keyboard, an alpha-numericinput device, a cursor control device, a mouse, a pointing device, atouch-sensitive pad, or a touch-sensitive screen.
 45. The system ofclaim 37, wherein the identifier includes one or more of: an internetprotocol (IP) address associated with the mobile device or a phonenumber associated with the mobile device.
 46. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of a first device comprisinginstructions stored therein, which when executed by one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to perform operationscomprising: accessing a database, by a computer system, in response toan initiation of a payment transaction, to obtain an identifierassociated in the database with a payment card used at a paymentterminal of a seller, the payment card being linked, in the database,with a plurality of payment accounts of a consumer; transmitting aselection message, by the computer system, based on the identifier, to amobile device associated with the consumer, wherein the transmittedselection message triggers an application executing at the mobile deviceto display at the mobile device a selection interface that (i) includesa listing of the plurality of payment accounts and (ii) enables theconsumer to select a payment account of the plurality of paymentaccounts to use for the payment transaction; transmitting a transactionmessage, by the computer system, to the mobile device based on theidentifier, wherein the transmitted transaction message triggers theapplication executing at the mobile device to display at the mobiledevice an authorization interface that includes transaction information,received from the payment terminal system of the seller, related to thepayment transaction; receiving, from the application, by the computersystem, an authorization message indicating (a) the consumer's selectionof a payment account of the plurality of payment accounts, the selectionhaving been generated in response to the consumer inputting data via theselection interface and (b) the consumer's authorization of payment, theauthorization having been generated in response to the consumerinputting data via the authorization interface; and based on theauthorization message, causing funds for the payment transaction to beobtained based on the selected payment account.
 47. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the authorizationinterface further requires the consumer to provide, using the mobiledevice, at least one of: an electronic signature to indicate that theconsumer agrees to terms of the payment transaction, a personalidentification number (PIN), a password, or a pass phrase.
 48. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein theauthorization interface further requires the consumer to indicate, usingthe mobile device, a tip amount associated with the payment transaction.49. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 46,wherein the authorization interface further requires the consumer toprovide an electronic signature to indicate that the consumer agrees toterms of the payment transaction, and wherein the instructions furthercause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:transmitting the electronic signature for use in resolving a disputerelated to the payment transaction.